Ahh, The Minnesota Vikings

Great article over on the WWL, from their NFC North blogger, Kevin Seifert. Seifert has been covering the Vikings for years, and has an interesting run-down of all the weird things that have happened to the Vikings over the last 7-8 years. Some pretty funny stuff on there, and even a couple things i had not heard of before, including the Tice contract situation. Check the article out here.

Vikings Coaching Options For 2009

So i took a look at possible QB replacements for the Vikings a few days, and here's a look at possible coaching replacements for them.

Brian Billick
He's in the broadcast booth for this year after 8 years with the Ravens. He led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win with a team built very much like the current Vikings team, though he gained his calling as an Offensive Coordinator. Coincidentally, that calling was gained with the Vikings.

Scott Linehan
Let's face it, he's not lasting into next year with the Rams, and may not even last the rest of the season. I'm not sure he's ready/able to be a Head Coach, but he's also got Vikings ties as an Offensive Coordinator under Mike Tice. If not the Head Coach, i wouldn't mind seeing him back as the O.C.

Marty Schottenheimer
I'm not sure i'm sold on Marty either, though he does have a good track record of fielding good teams. His problem has been that he can't win the big playoff/Super Bowl games. Not that that is any different from the Vikings franchise as a whole... Either way, i threw out this name for my brother...

Bill Cowher
The marquee name on this list. Cowher never said he was done coaching after retiring from the Steelers, only that he wanted to take some time off. This is his second year out of coaching, and i would imagine he would start to feel the itch again. Seeing as how Cowher is a great coach, if he decided to come back he would and should have his pick of jobs. Of any teams out there that will be looking for a new coach, it's hard to argue the Vikings wouldn't be the best option.

So there you go. If i had my picks, it'd be Bill Cowher leading a Vikings team with Derek Anderson as it's starting QB to open the 2009 season. But that's a long ways off, and a lot can happen in the meantime.

The 2008 season is still young, and the Vikings, despite being 0-2, still have a chance to have a good season. As a fan, that's all i'm focusing on for now. The rest can wait...

T-Jack Benched: An In-Depth Look At The 2008 Vikings

I just logged into ESPN, and the top headline to the right of their main story was that Tarvaris Jackson of the Minnesota Vikings has been benched in favor of Gus Frerotte for the remainder of the season. There are many things i have to say about this, but let's start here:

You might as well leave him in.

I am by no means on the T-Jack bandwagon. In fact, i am one of the people who did not buy into the 'T-Jack looks better than ever' hype he was getting in the preseason. I've never been a big believer in him, and have never thought he had what it takes to lead this team to where they want to go.

That said, i know for sure Gus Frerotte doesn't have what it takes to lead this team where they want to go. Frerotte is a nice back-up, don't get me wrong, but you know exactly what you're gonna get with him: 15-22, 150 yards, 1 TD 1 INT. He doesn't have a great vertical passing game despite what people say (he's 37 people!), and he's not real mobile.

If you're giving up the hope of this offense having any explosiveness in the passing game, why not stick with T-Jack? He hasn't shown any ability to throw vertically either, but he has a little more upside potential that Gus Frerotte. At least T-Jack can run when things break down...

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It's becoming painfully obvious this team needs a change. A change in qb, a change in coaching staff, and a change in philosophy.

The Vikings are loaded at pretty much every position except QB, and they're young at most positions. The O-Line is stacked and in their primes. The running back position is poised to be the best in the League for years to come. They have two solid young WR's in Sydney Rice and Bernard Berrian who can stretch the field, and a decent if not spectacular possession-type receiver in Bobby Wade.

Their defense is absolutely loaded. The front four may be the best in football, with only Pat Williams on the backside of his career. Though they already have his replacement in Fred Evans. The LB crew is young and good. Darren Sharper as a Safety is getting up there, but they have his replacement in Madieu Williams who they signed in the offseason. Antoine Winfield is also getting older, but this team has corners galore in waiting, including Cedric Griffin and Charles Gordon.

This team has the talent at every single position to compete for NFL Championships except the most important position: The QB. Not only that, but they haven't had a good QB since the days of Daunte Culpepper, and even he was good for only three or four years. The Vikings haven't had a franchise quarterback since Fran Tarkenton in the '70s. It's the one thing that's been lacking for decades for this franchise. Contrast that to the Packers, who had a franchise quarterback for 17 years, let him go, and appear to have another one. Makes me sick...

So here's the options. Preferably i'd like to get someone in right now, this season, so this year isn't a total waste. Not sure how feasible that is though, so we'll also look at some options to bring in during the offseason. Also keep in mind the Vikings don't need a Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb type quarterback. They only need someone who can manage the game and not throw picks.

Daunte Culpepper
Yeah, i just threw up in my mouth a little also, but he could bring a certain stability to the position and would be familiar/comfortable in Minnesota. He isn't mobile anymore, but can still make the throws. Our O-Line is good enough to give him the time needed in the pocket. At best though he's a short-term option.

Jeff Garcia
He's clearly fallen out of favor with Jon Gruden in Tampa, but showed last year he's still a capable QB. He played well in Philly in 2006 after replacing an injured McNabb as well. Chris Simms has been named the starter for Week 3, and Garcia has been open about his frustration there. He could be had for the right price.

Derek Anderson
Though he's technically still starting for the Browns, i'm not sure how much longer that will last. The Browns have started 0-2 and have looked bad doing it. The pressure is mounting to start Brady Quinn over Anderson, and if that were to happen i have to believe it would be for the rest of the season. The Vikings might be able to get Anderson away from the Browns.

Kurt Warner/Matt Leinart
Only because i don't believe the Cardinals can keep both of them again next season. One of them will be available. Though to be fair i'm still not sure Leinart is a capable QB, but maybe being out of the nightlife of Scottsdale will do him some good.

That's just a quick list for QB needs. I'll post a rundown later of what i think they should do with the coaching situation. Hint: It doesn't involve Brad Childress...

Sign Of The Apocalypse

I'm back. I was on vacation. In Hawaii. It did not suck.

Anyway, i'm back in town and back at work, which means i'm not doing anything and can post on here. As such, i found a sign of the apocalypse on the internet, and one i'm none too happy about.

Dr. Z is picking the Vikings to win it all.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Thank you for jinxing them...

NFL CBA

That's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for those of you who don't know. And it's in the news today because at the NFL Owners Meetings the owners voted 32-0 to end the NFL's CBA after the 2010 season. What does this mean for the NFL and your favorite team?

Well, it depends who you talk to. First, let me explain that i don't believe the Owners or the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) will allow this to expire before getting a new deal in place. That said, it brings up some interesting scenarios that could play out.

This upcoming season, 2008, and next season, 2009, will remain the same. In 2010, if there is indeed no new CBA in place, the season will have no salary cap. Which means watch out for big market teams, such as Dallas, New England, and New York. Gene Upshaw, the man in charge of the NFLPA, has claimed that if there is ever an uncapped season, the players will never again go back to a salary cap.

(On a side note, this vastly affects my favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, in a number of reasons. First off, they have the best cap man in the league in Rob Brzezinski. They consistently have the most money to spend in the offseason the last few years, which has resulted in their ability to bring in big-time free agents such as Jared Allen. With no cap, Minnesota is considered to be a small-market franchise, and as a result will not have the money to contend with the aforementioned big-market teams.

The Vikings have a terrible stadium situation at the moment, to the point where they are making almost zero money from the Metrodome. After repeated attempts to get a new stadium financed by the people in the state of Minnesota have failed, it appears to be a stale-mate. In a League with no cap, where money is everything, the Vikings will flounder, paving the way for them to look at a move to Los Angeles. They would have a state of the art stadium, plus the luxury of the second largest market in the League with no other NFL team there. Needless to say, i'm a bit apprehensive about this CBA situation.)

But i digress. Looking at the overall impact, after a 2010 season with no salary cap, there is a very high chance that in 2011 the players would strike. I don't know about you, but that would be very, very bad, as the NFL is a) the most popular League in the US, b) The best-run League in the US, and c) My favorite League to watch.

The silver lining in all of this is that, as i stated above, i think it is unlikely the situation ever gets that far. The Owners and the NFLPA have two years to get a new cap in place, where i think there will only be two main sticking points (Revenue sharing between Owners and how big a chunk of the money the Players get. Currently it's more than 50%). That said, it's a situation all NFL fans should be keeping an eye on in the next two years.

Because i'm lazy, i haven't put any thoughts about last weekend's NFL draft down here. The Vikings made a huge trade for Defensive End Jared Allen before the draft, and as a result didn't have many draft choices (just 5 total). As a result, i wasn't nearly as excited as i was last year when the drafted Purple Jesus at No. 7.

Anyway, there's a decent run-down of Hawkeye's that got drafted or signed over at BHGP. As always, it's a great site that's way funnier and way more knowledgeable than me...

Uh oh!

Hey NFC North:

You are in trouble.

The Minnesota Vikings, who already have the best tandem of interior defensive linemen in the League, and therefore the best run defense in the League, just traded for and signed the League's sack leader from last season, Jared Allen (All the major news sources have the story, but read about it here).

Thank you Kansas City and Herm Edwards, for being so inept that one of the best Defensive End's in the NFL wanted no part of signing a long-term deal with.

And so the Vikings defense just got a whole lot stronger. Best run defense. Last year's sack leader with 15.5 sacks. One of the best safeties in the NFL, Darren Sharper, the NFL's leader in INT's since 2000. A great corner in Antoine Winfield.

This defense is gonna be stacked.

Oh, and did i mention they have arguably the best running back in the League, Pro Bowl MVP Adrian Peterson?

Is it September yet??

The NFL's True Ironman

Hat Tip to The Daily Norseman, a great Vikings Blog, for this article about the NFL's true ironman. And here's a hint: It's not that retiring qb from the land of the cheese...

This day is turning into a homerific day, with posts about the Hawkeyes and the Vikings. It doesn't happen often, so umm, deal with it.

Best Wishes To Kenechi Udeze

While details are still a bit sketchy, Vikings Defense End Kenechi Udeze has reportedly been diagnosed with some form of leukemia, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

It is certainly an unexpected and scary situation, especially for someone who is only 24 years old. We wish him the best and hope for a full recovery.

Purple Jesus

Two TD's and 129 yards rushing, the 2nd highest total in Pro Bowl history. Yeah, i'd say that's worthy of the Pro Bowl MVP.

Congratulations Adrian Peterson, what a great way to finish out a fantastic rookie year.

Purple Jesus

This was AP, runnng away from the Charger defense all day...

296 yards rushing and 3 TD's. NFL single game rushing record. I am a man!

Ridiculous

I understand that Purple Jesus is like, good or something, and that people might be deluded into thinking that if he's that good, some of his goodness might rub off on people around him (or something?), but this is ridiculous:

Jeff George wants to come play for the Vikings. Yeah, you read that correctly. 39 year old, hasn't throw a pass in the NFL in 6 years, played well for the Vikings 8 years ago, Jeff George. Thinks he can come in and 'help' the Vikings.

I know the Vikings are desperate. And i understand and realize that they may need to pick up another qb, and soon, but not Jeff George. Come on...

Fuck Brett Favre

Yeah, that's right, i said it. Fuck him. Brett Favre can suck a dick. He has tormented the Vikings for way too long, and needs to retire already. He can sell all the Wrangler jeans he wants to, just GET OUT OF THE NFL.

And yes, i may be bitter. But really, here's what i want you to know: I'm sure everyone has already heard that with one more TD pass, Favre will move into first place all time for TD passes thrown. But what NO ONE is talking about, is that with two more interceptions, Favre will also move into first place for most INT's thrown. But, of course, because he's Brett Favre and everyone sucks his dick, no one mentions this. But i mention this, and you know what? Favre will get both records this week against the Vikings. He will have his touchdown, but he will also have his two INT's. And i will scream at my tv, even as the Vikings are losing, FUCK YOU BRETT FAVRE. That is all.

Adrian Peterson = All Day

So for those of you who don't know, in addition to being a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan, i am a huge Minnesota Vikings homer. And last night was a banner game for the Vikings, even if it was only preseason.

The defense looked spectacular, getting three touchdowns from the group, including two pick-sixes and a fumble recovery (none of which i can show you, because of the NFL's ban on putting videos of their games on YouTube because of copyright issues. Worthless). One of those pick sixes was from Iowa's very own Chad Greenway, who is in his second year but did not play last year due to an ACL tear. Greenway, as well as the rest of the defense, looked to be in mid-season form for the most part, with the exception of Cedric Griffin's pathetic attempts at tackling. That need to be shored up quickly.

Then we get to the offense. And the ridiculous talent that is known as All Day, Adrian Peterson (now nicknamed the Purple Jesus by at least one blog, Kissing Suzy Kolber, which you should definitely check out). On his first carry, AP went off tackle right, completed a fantastic spin move back towards the inside to avoid a tackler, then broke the run down the sideline for 43 yards, the end of which instead of stepping out, he bowled over a defender for good measure. (UPDATE: Video here). AP finished with 70 yards on eight carries, an impressive day.

While it was only preseason, the Vikings did look fairly sharp and walked away with a 37-20 win. Next week they will have to get more work for their young quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and their inexperienced corp of receivers, but it's hard to complain too much about a victory like this. Should build a little confidence if nothing else...

The best words of the year!

Players checked into Minnesota State - Mankato on Wednesday with meetings and conditioning tests scheduled for Thursday and the first practice scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.